Date & Time - Every Saturday (barring bad weather or major holidays) from 7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
* To ensure a regular meeting place, it was important to select a time before the usual opening hours of surrounding businesses.

Upon an early arrival at Hunt Valley Towne Centre, it was a nice surprise to see the crew headed to Hershey for Castaway Critters. Seeing the crew off at 7:15 left me a few minutes to chat with the crew and to see some fine automobiles.

Since the early crew for Hunt Valley Cars & Coffee overlapped with the Hershey Pre-Meet, it allowed for some out-of-the-box action and we so we parked outside of the designated area. It had to lead to some quizzical moments for the arrivals but everyone figured it out easily. Cone mutiny?

The first 3 pictures are from the early hours with the pre-meet and the remainder are from later action at Hunt Valley Cars & Coffee. These are a few of my pictures. Other attendees had better timing to capture others in the group. Enjoy.

I hope this message finds you well. On April 28, it was exciting to see the groups of Alfas, Porsches, Ferraris, Vipers, Corvettes, BMWs and everywhere in between. The race Beetle drew major attention from close and afar. How about the size comparison between the military vehicle and the Datsun Fairlady while they were parked in adjacent spaces? That's something you don't see every day...or year for that matter. The Buick hot rod next to a Ferrari 430 was another view that brought many wide eyes and wide smiles.

After a string of questionable weather for at least some portion of our Saturdays, the warm and dry weather is back! Maybe the heavier jackets can take a few months of retirement. Accuweather.com is projecting partly sunny skies and temperatures the low 70’s for our morning time slot. If your treasured vehicle ventures onto the local roads only when the weather is suitable, Mother Nature has you covered.

Here's a final reminder for Maserati, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Alfa Romeo owners. After our gathering on Saturday morning (~9:30 a.m.), you're encouraged to take a cruise to Radcliffe Motorcar on 12340 Owings Mills Boulevard (Ste. 100) in Reisterstown for the 5th Annual Vintage Ferrari All-Italian Car Event. Check http://www.rmccar.com/vintageferrarievent.html for more information. Be prepared for a truly special event.

If you are a Facebook user, check the following link and request an invite … https://www.facebook.com/groups/Hunt...y.Cars.Coffee/ . As of the release of this message, there are 278 members of our Facebook Group Page and there’s a steady flow of new members each week.

If you choose to generally resist Facebook, all information on the following link is viewable without membership ... https://www.facebook.com/events/240314176055770/ . As of the release of this message, there are 574 Facebook users that have expressed interest on this page. While this page was the original Facebook home for our event, it has evolved into an information stream for our non-Facebook members.

May 5 was such a tremendous day. Thank you to everyone that spent a part of their Saturday morning at our gathering. The weather turned away from early predictions of possible rain to being a warm and mostly sunny morning. Saturday's crowd set a very positive trend. A great weather day brings great numbers. An unsolicited estimate set the attendance at 80 cars. That’s quite amazing for an event that’s so early in its exposure cycle.

When it comes to diversity, May 5 was at the top. The first 2 events brought more numbers (with caravans aligning to check out the ‘new thing’) but last Saturday covered more bases. As the word spreads, the diversity will only improve. Great times. Great people. Great cars. Great coffee. Now set your calendars for May 12!

There's an increasing amount of photographers attending our gatherings. As a result of their suggestions, the Hunt Valley Cars & Coffee Group Pool on Flickr has been created. I have uploaded nearly 100 of my own photos and others are doing the same. Regardless of Flickr membership status, the photo pool can be viewed by all. Here’s the link … http://www.flickr.com/groups/hunt_valley_cars__coffee/. If you have been taking a few photos at the gatherings and would like to share your work, join the group and begin uploading!

If you have attended any of the first 4 events as well as last Saturday’s event, you'll notice that the parking area for May 5 migrated from the north and east borders of the parking lot to more of a central location. This is due to a fenced construction area that’ll result in a new crab restaurant and bank. Greenberg Gibbons Commercial, the management company for Hunt Valley Towne Centre, has assured me that construction will be inactive over the weekend until further notice. The new location brings us closer to Caribou and Panera, two great options for your morning coffee.

Let’s shift to Saturday’s projected weather. Accuweather says, “Mostly sunny and beautiful, high of 75 and low of 56.” It literally doesn’t get any better. Give your treasured car a good wash and maybe a fine detail. If you haven’t been to one of our gatherings, if the schedule fits, the weather undoubtedly works in your favor. We hope to see you there!

If you are a Facebook user, check the following link and request an invite … https://www.facebook.com/groups/Hunt...y.Cars.Coffee/. As of the release of this message, there are 290 members of our Facebook Group Page and there’s a steady flow of new members each week.

If you choose to generally resist Facebook, all information on the following link is viewable without membership ... https://www.facebook.com/events/240314176055770/. As of the release of this message, there are 575 Facebook users that have expressed interest on this page. While this page was the original Facebook home for our event, it has evolved into an information stream for our non-Facebook members.

I was there on 5/5 in my 66 Vette and again last Saturday the 12th in my 427 Cobra. I plan to see you this Saturday as well. I wish you continued success.

Gary

Gary, thank you for the good words and for attending regularly. I have photos of both vehicles in my collection. We look forward to seeing you this Saturday!

Friends,

Hunt Valley Cars & Coffee has gone through subtle transformations over our first 6 gatherings. For the first 2, we saw multiple caravans that formed on various enthusiast websites and traveled from near and far. For the past 2, we saw more diversity and a resurgence in attendance. On May 12, there were over 100 automobiles comprised of a pleasant balance of veterans and first-timers. Attendance figures and the diversity of vehicles showed that the region can support the best weekly Cars & Coffee event in Maryland!

On the subject of coffee, today I’ll be talking with a representative from Panera Bread to discuss sales of coffee, muffins and other breakfast items on our gathering site. Its all about introducing extra convenience to our morning experience. Developments will be shared as they arrive.

Lets focus on this Saturday. Accuweather.com projects mostly sunny skies and temperatures warming through the 60’s for our gathering time. Mother Nature delivers another winner! If your automobile detailing is predicated on the weather, your game plan can now be set.

Since we’re so early in our developmental cycle and there are new people entering our family every week, its prudent to bring attention to the respect we show the people, the cars and the property during our Saturday mornings at Hunt Valley Cars & Coffee. Below are 2 paragraphs from the opening message on our Facebook Event Page …

Please respect the grounds. We're approved guests of Greenberg Gibbons Commercial and Hunt Valley Towne Centre. Be respectful guests. When entering, traveling within and exiting Hunt Valley Towne Centre, please respect all stop signs, rights of way and all speed limits. Yes, there are many 180+ mph vehicles in our regular group. We all know that displays of speed are meant for the track.

Safety for those in our gathering as well as everyone on the Hunt Valley Towne Centre grounds is our prime focus. Out of respect for the vendors, their customers and our participants, there shall be no exhaust or sound system tests. Please deposit all refuse in appropriate containers throughout the site. Thank you in advance for adhering to these guidelines. Its all about making Hunt Valley Cars & Coffee a safe and enjoyable place for everyone on our Saturday mornings.

Website Notes…

With so many beautiful automobiles appearing at our gatherings, its natural that photographers will want to capture their beauty. No membership is required to see photos stored on our Flickr page … http://www.flickr.com/groups/hunt_valley_cars__coffee/. If you’re a photographer, simply request a group invite and begin uploading your photos!

If you are a Facebook user, check the following link and request an invite … https://www.facebook.com/groups/Hunt...y.Cars.Coffee/. As of the release of this message, there are 308 members of our Facebook Group Page and there’s a steady flow of new members each week.

If you choose to generally resist Facebook, all information on the following link is viewable without membership ... https://www.facebook.com/events/240314176055770/. As of the release of this message, we’re approaching 600 Facebook users that have expressed interest on this page. While this page was the original Facebook home for our event, it has evolved into an information stream for our non-Facebook members.

Closing Note…

Spread the word about Hunt Valley Cars & Coffee! Bring your auto enthusiast friends, significant others, pets, and of course your cars. There are special times to come! Lets make Saturday, May 19 a great event!

Hunt Valley Cars & Coffee has reached the big 1-0. Our first 10 gatherings have put on display the special nature of the region’s auto enthusiast community. Many have commented that they have never seen such a diverse group of people get together every Saturday to share their love for automobiles. We’ve had ‘early enthusiasts’ that are a few months old all the way to ‘seasoned enthusiasts’ that are a ‘few years older’. Cars and trucks have come from the 1930’s to 2013. Everyone is accepted and we’re all on a level plane. A few of us see younger versions of ourselves out there when the teenagers and 20-somethings arrive with their group of friends to talk about their cars. The younger guys and girls are drawing inspiration from the folks that have been established in their careers and have purchased their dream cars. It’s a really special thing to witness every week.

Spend and hour or two with the Hunt Valley Cars & Coffee crew. Having your morning coffee while seeing beautiful automobiles and enjoying the conversation of new and old friends is a great way to start the weekend. We hope to see you there!

Administrative Notes…

Parking will remain on the north end of the former Best Buy parking lot. Simply look for the cones. On your way to Hunt Valley, please respect local speed limits and traffic laws. While on Hunt Valley Towne Centre grounds, please drive at a safe speed and respect all rights of way. Its about respect for everyone on the grounds during our 2-hour time span. Also, please understand that sales promotion that is not related to the businesses of Hunt Valley Towne Centre is prohibited on the grounds.

Website Notes…

With so many beautiful automobiles appearing at our gatherings, its natural that photographers will want to capture their beauty. No membership is required to see photos stored on our Flickr page … http://www.flickr.com/groups/hunt_valley_cars__coffee/. Right now, there are over 500 photos in our ever-expanding collection. If you’re a photographer, simply request a group invite and begin uploading your photos!

If you are a Facebook user, check the following link and request an invite … https://www.facebook.com/groups/Hunt...y.Cars.Coffee/. Over 340 members have joined our Facebook Group Page and the member list grows every week. Pretty amazing. Our family’s internet presence is getting so big that we may need to talk to the zoning commission.

If Facebook isn’t your thing, all information on the following link is viewable without membership ... https://www.facebook.com/events/240314176055770/. As of the release of this message, over 600 Facebook users have expressed interest on this page. This is where the action all started…where we discovered that the region’s automobile enthusiast community had strong support for a weekly gathering. Now it’s the first stop for our non-Facebook users to get the latest information.

Closing Notes…

Looking forward to this weekend, the 8th Annual Hereford Zone Car Show will be taking place on Saturday June 16 at Executive Plaza in Hunt Valley -- about 2 minutes from our location. Event timing aligns perfectly. We close our action at 9:30 a.m. and the next event starts at 10:00 a.m. for an easy transition. The show is hosted by the Sparks Hereford Alumni Association and benefits the Leib McDonald Memorial Technical School Scholarship.

Spread the word about Hunt Valley Cars & Coffee! Bring your auto enthusiast friends, significant others, pets, and of course your cars. We all hope to see you there!

The dog days of summer are here. In the auto enthusiast world, this means its time to check coolant levels, tire pressures, hoses, belts, A/C…the list goes on. Love your car and it’ll love you back. Summertime brings us closer to our cars and our cars set the structure for many of our fondest memories. The long cruises on the backroads with friends, the treks to the beach with family, track days at Summit Point and how about gathering with friends – old and new – at Hunt Valley Cars & Coffee? All great times. Our cars and trucks make it all happen. Its not hard to understand why they’re our common bond…our common passion.

Getting down to this Saturday, expect temperatures in the mid-70’s with partly cloudy skies. As with any summer day, there’s a shot for thunderstorms in the afternoon so get your baby under cover if that’s the custom. Thankfully, the morning projects to be dry.

Today, Friday, July 13 is National Collector Car Appreciation Day. According to SEMA, the date intends to raise awareness of the vital role automotive restoration and collection plays in American society. SEMA and its councils are again working to secure a congressional resolution to recognize the day’s significance. The industry endeavors to preserve our nation’s automotive heritage while providing well-paying, high-skilled jobs nationwide. Collector Car Appreciation Day is a singular tribute to the collector car industry and the millions of hobbyists it supports.

Administrative Notes…

Parking will remain on the north end of the former Best Buy parking lot. Simply look for the cones. On your way to Hunt Valley, please respect local speed limits and traffic laws. While on Hunt Valley Towne Centre grounds, please drive at a safe speed and respect all rights of way. Its about respect for everyone on the grounds during our 2-hour time span. Also, please understand that sales promotion that is not related to the businesses of Hunt Valley Towne Centre is prohibited on the grounds.

You’ll notice the construction site that is adjacent to our meeting area’s southern border. Joe’s Crab Shack will be moving there later this year and as of this message, much of the framing is in place. Locally, you’ll find Joe’s Crab Shack locations in Greenbelt and Gaithersburg. The word has been very positive about Joe’s products and service and so many are looking forward to Hunt Valley Towne Centre’s upcoming addition.

Website Notes…

With so many beautiful automobiles appearing at our gatherings, its natural that photographers will want to capture their beauty. To date, 15 photographers have registered and have shared photos on our Flickr page. No membership is required to view… Flickr: Hunt Valley Cars & Coffee. Right now, there are 671 photos in our ever-expanding collection. If you’re a photographer, simply request a group invite and begin uploading your photos!

If you are a Facebook user, check the following link and request an invite … https://www.facebook.com/groups/Hunt...y.Cars.Coffee/. 373 members have joined our Facebook Group Page and the member list grows every week. Pretty amazing. Our family’s internet presence is getting so big that we may need to talk to the zoning commission.

If Facebook isn’t your thing, all information on the following link is viewable without membership ... https://www.facebook.com/events/240314176055770/. As of the release of this message, over 610 Facebook users have expressed interest on this page. This is where the action all started…where we discovered that the region’s automobile enthusiast community had strong support for a weekly gathering. Now it’s the first stop for our non-Facebook users to get the latest information.

Closing Notes…

Spread the word about Hunt Valley Cars & Coffee! Bring your auto enthusiast friends, significant others, pets, and of course your cars. We all hope to see you there!

Our 6-month anniversary will be on Saturday, September 29. Since the first gathering on March 31, nearly 2000 cars and even more people have been in attendance. This is a testament to the hearts of the car-loving people of our region. Many took it upon themselves to spread the word and participate whenever the busy schedules had an open spot on Saturday morning.

Thank you to everyone that has been there from the beginning. Thank you to each person that has joined the family at any point during this journey. If this Saturday will be your first, welcome.

We have turned the page to a new calendar year. I hope this message finds you well. 2012, our inaugural year, was truly special. Every week brought new people and cars from all generations. Car clubs and groups of friends arrived from near and far to form one big family. Thank you to everyone that has participated and we look forward to meeting a brand new group of car enthusiasts down the road.

March 30 marks the 1-year anniversary of Hunt Valley Cars & Coffee as well as the unofficial end of hibernation for many of our cherished automobiles. The trickle chargers are disconnected, the summer tires are installed and the winter machines are parked.

If you haven’t been to one of our weekly Saturday morning gatherings, March 30 (or the April 6 rain date) will be something very special. Our first gathering on March 31, 2012 saw over 200 cars from every manufacturer and generation imaginable. Mark it on your calendar and spread the word.

In the meantime, when your Saturday morning schedule is open, be sure to visit us at Hunt Valley Cars & Coffee!